CARNIVORA. 61 



GULO, Storr. 



Linnaeus also placed the Gluttons among the bears, but they approximate 

 much nearer to the weasels in their teeth as well as in their habits, the only 

 relation they have to the former consisting in their plantigrade motion. 

 They have three false molars above and four below, immediately antecedent 

 to the carnivorous teeth, which are well characterised,, and behind them two 

 small tuberculous ones, the upper being more'broad than long. Their supe- 

 rior carnivorous tooth has only one small tubercle on the inner side, and in 

 fact, the whole dental system is nearly the same as that of the weasels. The 

 tail is of a middling size, with a plait or fold beneath in place of a sac, and the 

 port of the animal is very similar to that of the badger. 



The most celebrated species is the Glutton of the north, the Ursus gulo, L. 

 (The Common Glutton.) About the size of the B idger ; usually of a fine deep 

 marone colour, with a disk on the back of a darker brown ; sometimes, how- 

 ever, the shades are lighter. It inhabits the coldest regions of the North, and 

 is considered very sanguinary and ferocious, it hunts during the night, does not 

 become torpid during the winter, and masters the largest animals by leaping 

 upon them from the top of a tree. Its voracity has been ridiculously exagge- 

 rated by some authors. The Wolverene of North America ( Ursus luscus, Lin. ) 

 does not appear to differ from it in any constant character its colours, how- 

 ever, are generally lighter. 



Hot climates produce some species which can only be placed near the 

 Gluttons, as they differ from them merely in having one false molar less in 

 each jaw, and in a long tail. Such are the animals, termed by the inhabitants 

 of South America Ferrets, which, having the teeth of our Ferrets and Pole- 

 cats, have in fact similar habi's they are distinguished from them, however, 

 by their plantigrade motion. 



Viverra vittata, L. (The Grison.) Black ; top of the head and neck grey ; 

 a white band, reaching from the forehead to the shoulders. 



Mwtela Barbara. This and another species (The Taira) are found in all 

 the warm parts of America ; they smell strongly of musk. Their feet are 

 somewhat palmated, and it appears they have been sometimes taken for 

 Otters. 



RATELUS, F. Cuvier. 



The Ratels have a false molar in each jaw less than the Grison, and their 

 upper tuberculous tooth is but slightly developed, so that in the teeth they 

 approach the Cat, while their whole exterior is that of the Grison or Badger. 

 The legs are short ; feet plantigrade, and five toes to each ; nails very strong, 

 &c. &c. 



One species only is known, the f iverra meliivora, Sparm. Size of the 

 European Badger; grey above; black beneath, with a white line that separates 

 the two colours ; sometimes it is nearly all white above. It inhabits the Cape 

 of Good Hope, and digs up the earth with its long claws, in search of the 

 honey-combs of the wild bees. The 



